21 Dec 2018
Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), Dr. John Mangudya said a discussion on disbursement of forex required to secure water treatment chemicals had been overtaken by events because the RBZ disbursed US$1,2 million to City of Harare.
The Governor said this in response to Community Water Alliance’s request for a meeting on Friday 21 December 2018. The alliance sought a detailed explanation on the disbursement of foreign currency for water treatment chemicals.
While Community Water Alliance appreciates the effort by the RBZ to disburse US$1,2 million, it is very important to mention that City of Harare requires at least US$2,5 million and has no other source of foreign currency other than the Reserve Bank.
Community Water Alliance will seek interface with City of Harare to clarify whether this allocation will ensure that daily water production move from the current 330 megalitres per day to at least 600 megalitres per day before 31 December 2018.
Residents implore RBZ officials to act in a manner that is consistent with Section 194 on principles governing public administration particularly swift response to people’s needs and accountable administration which addresses development needs.
#PotableWaterIsAPriority
21 Dec 2018
Community Water Alliance note with concern the burden imposed on Harare residents by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) through legacy debt.
ZIMRA is doubling its legacy debt on a monthly basis and this is crippling capacity of City of Harare to generate revenue required for fulfilment of the right to safe, clean and portable water. The fees are paid by residents and the yoke is too heavy on the neck of citizens paying rates in Harare.
An assessment by Community Water Alliance revealed that legacy debt and interest charges were doubling on a monthly basis e.g $25 million would increase to $50 million over one month. We appreciate that the operations of ZIMRA are lawful but these actions have crippled City of Harare’s capacity to raise revenue needed for critical areas like water and sanitation.
Community Water Alliance has noted that currently City of Harare owes around $170 million legacy debt to ZIMRA. This amount allegedly increased through absurd interest charges.
If the central government cannot hive-off the legacy debt as it has done with other banks and parastatals, then law makers need to revisit these laws and ensure Local Authorities do not carry a heavy burden.
21 Dec 2018
The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Sekai Nzenza has assured Private Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) that there is no need for panic following reports that the government could be planning a clampdown on PVOs.
“There is no need for panic, it is a thing of the past and we are not going back there. We want PVOs to stick to their mandate and if they fail, we will follow the due process that may lead to revoking of licenses,” Minister Nzenza said.
“I understand that there may be one or two incidents that led to this and there was concern that the particular organisations were undermining the direction that the new dispensation is taking. Yes, the language sounds like that of the previous administration but that is not where we are headed.”
The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare was speaking at a meeting with the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) National Board Chairperson, Wadzanai Vere, National Board Children Sector representative, Reverend Tailor Nyanhete, Director of the Department of Labour, Langton Ngorima and Acting Director of Social Welfare Department. Criswell Nyakudya. The meeting was requested by NANGO, as it sought clarify of what had widely been construed as a bid to clamp down on PVOs.
Following a cabinet meeting on December 11, the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare cautioned PVOs to stick to their mandate and stop dabbling in politics, raising fears that the government could target some organisations.
NANGO Board Chairperson, Wadzanai Vere, said the ministry needs to be cognisant that a blanket statement threatens the security of the broader civil society including trusts that report to their boards and not the ministry.
“We need the ministry to categorically state that there is no need for panic and the situation is under control. It should have been clear if the statement applied to PVOs that are regulated by government. Nonetheless, NANGO members are curious as to what the security threat is, who the implicated organisations are and background leading to issuance of the statement,” said Vere.
The Director of the Department of Labour, Langton Ngorima, asserted that government has various sources of information and that it may be difficult to pinpoint culprits at this stage.
“The statement was more of a warning, something that the previous era would not issue. The ministry is open for dialogue and we are glad you sought audience,” Ngorima added.
In a bid to foster engagement between the parent ministry and NGOs, officials from the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare welcomed invitations to platforms that bring together NGOs, government ministries and other stakeholders. They noted the need to reassure people, engage and help NGOs appreciate where government wants to take communities.
NANGO is the officially recognised coordinating body of NGOs operating in Zimbabwe. NANGO, the largest umbrella body for non-governmental organisations in Zimbabwe. Established in 1962, it is a non-partisan, non-profit making organisation and non-denominational coordinating body of NGOs in Zimbabwe. It is mandated by its membership to coordinate the activities of NGOs, represent the NGO sector and strengthen the voice of NGOs in Zimbabwe.
16 Dec 2016
Zimbabwe is a signatory to international and regional human rights instruments thatpromote the realization of child rights. These include the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC). It is critical to note that, the fulfillment of child rights has budgetary implications. In light of this, the National Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (NANGO), with support from Save the Children and UNICEF is implementing the Child Friendly National Budgeting Initiative (CFNBI) that lobbies for the disbursement of adequate resources to expend on child development programmes, in view to enhanced child welfare. Developmental spaces were opened up for children through the Child Parliament (CP), Junior Councils (JC) and Junior School Development Committees (JSDCs) to participate and influence national, local and school level budget processes to make them child sensitive. These initiatives have resulted in the creation of improved child led institutions, policy spaces that are child friendly, and enhanced capacity and awareness of policy makers on child sensitive policies and expenditures. However, the socio-economic challenges faced bychildren still persist chiefly because of the failure by the national budget to support sustainableand progressive child development programmes and projects.
Children through the CP and JC have been engaging policy makers using the Children’s 10 Point Plan, their budget advocacy tool, which outlines children’s national and local budget aspirations. Due to the constrained fiscal space most of these aspirations are not funded and therefore not fulfilled. NANGO is convinced that the level of Investment in education, health and social protection determines how robust the future growth and development prospects of the economy would be. Investment in children forms a strong foundation for sustainable economic growth, human capital and health nation and socially healthy environment that is key to economic development.
NANGO carried out a child sensitive national budget analysis for the period 2012 to 2016.The child budget analysis further exposed the fiscal space constraintthat the country is entangled in. This demonstrates the continued incapacities of the national budget to disburse resources to child related programmes and projects. As such there is a big challenge in promoting, protecting and fulfilling the rights of children in Zimbabwe. There exist a huge variance between budget appropriations and expenditures on child development programmes across all the line ministries with child development mandates.
Allocation and expenditure to the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), and School Feeding Programmes have consistently underperformed. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MPSE), Ministry of Health and Child Care (MHCC) and Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare (MPSLSW) account for about 31% of national budget. Across the three ministries, budgets dedicated to children services have low budget utilization. In this context, the national budget has over years been reduced to a rhetoric budget, which promises child development initiatives that do notmaterialize. It is critical to note that without national budget expenditure, child rights and welfare will remain a mirage. For the period, 2012 to 2016, the allocation to the MHCC declined by 4.3%. In addition, the proportion of national budget to health did not meet the Abuja Declaration, which states that at least 15% of the national budget should be allocated to health. The allocation to the MPES grew by 14.6%. Cumulatively, the MPSE was allocated approximately US$3.2 billion over a period of five years. However, the bulk of this went to recurrent expenditure, to cover remuneration.
14 Dec 2018
In its 2019 budget presented by Councillor Luckson Mukunguma, City of Harare allocated $51 856 200 to water and sanitation against a total budget of $472 248 300. This is a milestone increment in budget allocation to water and sanitation for the past 10 years. Water and sanitation therefore got a 10,98% allocation of the total budget. Community Water Alliance advocated for a 10% budget allocation in letters sent City of Harare and engagements with Mayor of Harare Councillor Herbert Gomba.
City of Harare’s capital budget stands at $125 981 600. The allocation on water and sanitation is 41,16% of the city’s capital budget. We are glad that City of Harare has presented a water budget. The water account is expected to contribute $100 million in 2019 and the allocation given to water and sanitation is a positive move by the City of Harare.
Community Water Alliance however takes note of the following issues that need to be improved in the budget:
Besides issues that need improvement as noted above, Community Water Alliance highly commend City of Harare for presenting a water budget. The allocation is a pointer to both progressive realization and fulfilment of the human right to water enshrined in Section 77(a) of Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) 2013.
Hildaberta Rwambiwa
National Chairperson
Community Water Alliance
+263 773 874 484
14 Dec 2018
Community Water Alliance efforts in fighting debt Justice in water sector received a thumbs up from Justice Dube in a case pitting Law Society of Zimbabwe and Cephas Madyanyoka v Well-Cash Debt Collectors (HC 11442/17).
The fight against brutal debt management policies by CWA emanate from the fact that there is need to protect rights of the indigent and the strong thinking of a human rights-based approach to development in water sector.
Community Water Alliance engaged Law Society of Zimbabwe, Legal Resources Foundation and Zimbabwe NGO Forum. Meetings to prepare the case were hosted by the Law Society of Zimbabwe. Free legal services were provided by the Law Society of Zimbabwe. Community Water Alliance member Cephas Madyanyoka who was second applicant withdrew under suspicious circumstances.
The learned judge Justice Dube delivered judgment and ordered that:
1) Well-Cash threats of taking legal action as if it were a legal firm violates Section 9(2)(b) of the Legal Practitioners Act.
2) Well-Cash Debt Collectors cease and desist from sending any further letters threatening legal action.
3) Well-Cash shall pay costs of the application.
7 Dec 2018
Research – An overview of the Agribusiness Sector In Zimbabwe: A Focus on the Horticultural Sector
Deadline: 21 December 2018 (12.00 hours)
Objective
The National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) and its partners, i.e the SMAIAS. SAPST, ZAN & ZiCHIRe seeks proposals from Consultants to carry out an overview of the Agribusiness sector in Zimbabwe with a specific focus on the horticultural sector and publish a research paper from the findings.
The agricultural sector remains the pillar of the economy in Zimbabwe and recent policy pronouncements by the Government of Zimbabwe that the country is open for business and that export oriented agriculture will play critical role have heightened expectations within and without boarders that agribusiness firms will play a central role in the country’s agricultural development. With debates ensuring in policy and academic circles over the likely impact of agribusiness investments, it becomes imperative to undertake a study to examine the state of the agribusiness sector in Zimbabwe. Experiences in other African countries such as Mozambique which underwent a liberalisation path have shown the rapacious nature of some of the investments on one hand while some other examples reflect economic development largely driven by the agricultural sector. Given the underperformance of the agricultural sector since following the implementation of the Fast Track Land Resettlement Programme (FTLRP), it becomes crucial to examine the agriculture policy environment in the context of a liberalised agenda. The conditions which allow farmers to access external markets are also critical to examine as they impact on the overall well-being of farmers.
The research is intended to evaluate the overall policy framework on agricultural investment and growth and go on to identify agribusiness firms involved in the horticultural sector. The study must also ascertain the level of agribusiness support to smallholders, scale of smallholder farmers involved in the horticultural sector. A thorough assessment of the input and output market is expected from the researcher and recommendations how smallholder participation in the horticultural sector can be enhanced.
Methodology
Apart from key informant interviews and / or focus group discussions, the Consultant will conduct a desk review of existing data, reports other studies and various documents which include EU documents on the state of agriculture in Zimbabwe, the EU NIP Zimbabwe documents, prior research papers into the area of study as well as reports from SMAIAS. Where possible, interviews with agribusiness firms, relevant government and EU officials as well as some programme beneficiaries will be conducted to corroborate desk research findings.
Organization of Work
The consultant will: Work closely with SMAIAS and NANGO secretariat and other project partners; Report to the Project Coordinator
Deliverables
The researcher is expected to submit the following reports:
a) First draft – following completion of the data sources, the researcher will submit a draft report on findings for review by NANGO and the technical team (Agriculture-based economic development & research sector) within the agreed time frame.
b) Final draft – one week after NANGO and the technical team have reviewed the first draft and communicated comments to the researcher, the Consultant will produce the final research report for publication.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience of the Researcher
The following skills, experience and competencies are required: At least a Masters level qualification in a relevant discipline such as Development Studies or Agricultural Economics and must have extensive knowledge and experience in Agrarian Studies;
To apply
Interested Consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their suitability for the assignment: Technical Proposal detailing proposed methodology of work and approach; Financial proposal in USD and a work plan; Detailed Curricula Vitae including past relevant experience; 3 (three) contactable references;
Proposal submissions in sealed envelopes marked CSO NIP RESEARCH must reach the following address by 12:00 hours on 9 November 2018: NANGO Head Office, 15 Bodle Avenue, Eastlea, Harare. Alternatively, applications can be submitted electronically to programsmanager.nango@gmail.com cc: info.nangozim@gmail.com
7 Dec 2018
n 2019 …. actually, next month, COMALISO intends to hit the ground running by getting REAL economists to get this stumbling country off its crutches. We can’t wait and watch the proverbial rogue meteor of bad economic and political policies disintegrate in our faces. Young economists have taken a back seat for too long, so here is an opportunity for them to have their say EVERY month in an informal but conducive environment. This is part of our “Tentacles of Pain” project whose objective is to input progressive liberal ideas in Zimbabwe and the region that mitigate the negative impact of bad policies. South Africa is facing elections next year; and both EFF and ANC are considering changing the constitution to expropriate property without compensation. They need our … your advice.
I kindly ask you to circulate the attached flyer to your stakeholders, partners, clients who are or know local economists, so we can have a strong database of individuals to help change our country and region’s fortunes. COMALISO will also approach individual corporates to support this our monthly breakfast dialogues project. This idea is inspired by Adam Smith, 18th Century author of the classic ‘The Wealth of Nations’.
Development Watch Issue: The 2022 Mid-Year Budget Review Statetement
Development Watch Volume 4, Issue 5
Development Watch Volume 4, Issue 4
30 Nov 2018
Manicaland Youth Association (MAYA) joins the rest of the world in commemorating the 2018 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence. It is disturbing that while we have been commemorating these days in the previous years, advocating for peace in the homes, violence increasing in the workplace. MAYA condemns all forms of violence perpetrated against women and girls by virtue of their gender. If there is no peace at the workplace there won’t be peace in the homes either. Women and girls deserve respect and protection form society.
MAYA will continue to lobby government to allow more tax cuts on items that relate to girls and women among them free duty of sanitary wear and the products that are used to produce sanitary pads. It is against this background that we stand together to help women and girls to access medication and other related items. We stand with others in condemning child marriages that are also being used to reduce the worth of girls when they are supposed to be in schools.
We are concerned when women are subjected to conditions that are inhuman and degrading in their places of work. Some women are subjected to sexual harassment in order to get a job and this has resulted in breakages of marriages and relationships. MAYA stands with these women in condemning such acts that reflect cowardice. Besides the 16 Days of Activism, MAYA still continues to lobby and advocate for stakeholders and duty bearers to put their policies into practice especially at the workplace. Stricter measures need to be put in place so that women are safe at the workplace and compete in the production cycle without being degraded at all levels. Men and women are equal partners and the nation should embrace equality.
The Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) joins the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and workers, the world over, in commemorating the International Workers’ Day! It is worrying that this year Workers’ Day is being commemorated in the midst of a deep socio-economic crisis in Zimbabwe, worsened by neo-liberal policies being implemented under the “Austerity for Prosperity” mantra. This has caused untold suffering to the workers in Zimbabwe due to continually rising cost of living further eroding wages and salaries. Already, first days of implementation of the Austerity for Prosperity has seen massive macroeconomic recession manifesting through many tax heads being introduced targeting the citizens and the worker, skyrocketing prices of basic commodities, macroeconomic distortions and foreign exchange shortages. Historical evidence, locally, regionally and internationally proves that austerity measures are not a solution to the material conditions of the working class instead they entrenches poverty, income and other forms of inequality.
The market economy promotes labour market flexibility weakening trade unions along the way, as well as promoting the concentration of wealth in the hands of the few for example it is estimated that in 2018, the richest Zimbabwean’s wealth was worth USD1,4billion1 while the poorest was worth USD2002.
